Animal trap



Feb. 12, 1924; 11,483,688

` P. J. G. SMITH ANIMAL TRAP Filed Feb. 16, 1923 C? /y'w/ /Al gint; H \E1 b' K l T11/N, A l l :yf

I w Mumnnnmun @1 Figa.

lil

Patented Feb.. i2, i924.

hehtht FFECF..

PEB/CIVILI; J. GRANT .SMlTF-, QF PORT ST. MAB-Y, ISLE OF HLM.

ANIMAL TRAP.

Application led February 16, 1923.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that l, FnnoIvAL JAMES GRANT SMITH, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing in Fort St. Mary, isle of Man, have invented certain new and useful improvements in and Relating to f Animal Traps, of which the following is a spccication.

This invention relates to animal traps such as mouse traps, rat traps and the like and has for its object so to construct such traps that they can be set without fear of shock owing to the catch releasing its hold prematurely whilst the trap is in the hand, and that the bait cannot be removed or eaten up without releasing the catch. n

One of the chief features of this invention is that the bait itself serves as a rigid element of detent means for the killing mechanism. Thus the bait may be held in position on a fiat piece of wood or other suitable material, hereinafter referred to as the board by a loop of twine or string, wire or the like which may be termed a cable, the ends of which pass down through an opening or openings in the board to the under surface of the board and up through an opening or openings in the board to the upper surface of the board where they are tied over a pivoted catch rod or over a loose catch piece which holds the killing mechanism in the set position, the strings having full play by running in a clear space underneath the board. The way in which this apparatus acts is as follows As the mouse or other creature to be caught eats away the bait from under the loop of twine or string which holds it the strings pay out, finally causing the catch to release its hold.

ln the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a general view of a mouse trap of the break-back type constructed according to this invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the same trap set ready for action.

Figure 8 is a plan view of a modification of the trap illustrated by Figures 1 and 2 in the sprung position.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal vertical section through the trap in the set position.

Referring to Figure 1 which illustrates a mouse trap of the break-back type constructed accordingr to this invention :-a designates the board, b a wire break-back frame which kills the mouse by pinning it to Serial No. 615,421. i v L the board, c a coiled wire spring which operates the wire frame b, d a piece of wire with staple ends fixing the spring to the board. e, e, small holes, hereinafter referred. to as the ba-it holes going right through the board, a somewhat larger hole at the opposite end of the board, hereinafter referred to as the catch hole going" right through the board, g a groove running along the under surface of the board to keep the strings from touching the ground. Instead of being grooved outunderneath, the board may be raised off the ground by studs or narrow strips of wood or other suitable material attached to the margin of its under surface. The wire break-back frame b and actuating spring c as illustrated are of known pattern.

Figure 2 shows a plan view of the same trap set ready for action, 7L. designates the bait with the loop of twine Z passing over it, is a loose catch with the ends of the twine tied over it.

Figure 3 is a plan -view of a modification of the trap illustrated by Figures l and 2 and shows slots e', f instead of the holes e, 7, and a wire catch m attached to the board. rlhe spring c is attached to the board by two small staples a, 0.

Figure 4E is a vertical section showing the manner in which the bait 72, and the catch 7c are held by the cable or twine Z.

rfhe method of setting a mouse trap (Figi l) constructed according to this invention is as follows Have ready two pieces of twine 3 feet and 1; 'feet long respectively, a piece of wooden match-stick barely inch thick and inch long, and a dice of hard crusty cheese or a shelled peanut or other suitable bait. Fass the ends of the short piece of twine down through the bait holes, e, c, one end through each hole, and then pass the two ends together up through the catch hole f and pull them through. V Force back the break-back frame Z) as far as it will go, taking care that the two ends of twine come out behind it'. Hold the frame back with the thumb of the left hand and temporarily bind it back hard to the board c by winding the long piece of twine round the trap from side to side so that it passes over the centre of the side wires of the frame 79. Place the bait under the loop of the first piece of twine and pull the loop tight over it. Lay the piece of match stick about of an inch over the end part of the break-back 'frame and between the two ends ot twine, and tie 'the twine tightly over it, the knot being made over the middle of the piece of match stick. Unloose the second piece of string which temporarily held the frame down and the trap is set ready for action.

the knot, provided the strings are intact. l/Vhatever kind of bait is used, it must be sufficiently hard to prevent the twine from cuttingr into it and it must not be so wide as to jam the strings which should be allowed to run freely. A, `e'ood way to test the working of the trap is to place the loop at the holes c, c, just above the pointed end oil a lead pencil to represent the bait. By gradually withdrawing the pencil, the loop will slip down causing the strings to pay out and so release the catch.

Apart from the absolute simplicity of' its construction a mouse trap operated on this new principle has two great advantages, viz z 1. It can be set in comfort and without any fear of it going off whilst in the hand with that well known vicious snap so startling to a person of sensitive nerves. If it is set hard, which is the proper way to set it, the trap can be dropped down on to the floor without the catch releasing,` its hold.

l In resettingy the trap it is not always necessary to untie ing round said bait and held taut thereby,

and a detent held in position by the taut cable.

2. An animal trap comprising a springbreak-back, a cable, a base plate recessed on its under side for the reception of the cable and at least two perforations in said base only slightly wider than the thickness ot said cable, a rigid bait to holdv the cable taut and a detent held in position by the taut cable.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name this 16th day of January 1923, in the presence ot' two subscribing witnesses.

P. J. GRANT SMITH. Witnesses:

LEONARD ELLwooD JONES, DOROTHY GRAY. 

